Now that’s a slightly pretentious and wordy title. Nothing gonzo about that. Every so often, I see posts about a gonzo approach to UFO research, as well as the idea that witnesses/experiencers can’t possibly be objective about UFO research. What do these two things have in common? Well, Forteana is, by its very being, kind of gonzo-ish. And those that revel in that approach are often the very kind others sneer at: the grass roots aspect of UFO studies and experience. There’s an often unspoken but very real aspect of the UFO experience that some are guilty of promoting, and that’s classism. Throw in there some racism, sexism, ageism and other isms. . .we have a group of “researchers” who dismiss the witness based on personal agendas. Nothing new there. But really, it has to stop.

I guess “research” should be defined. When it comes to UFOs and the paranormal and Fortean stuff in general, just what is considered research? Is what I do research? Kind of sort of but certainly not in any great way. If anything, I research myself. It’s a self-reflexive thing.

Which brings us to the idea of objectivity/subjectivity. The first thing to get clear about is where one is, philosophically, about being objective. Me, I say no one is objective about anything. It’s all a matter of degrees; of being closer in, or further out, from the center, but never a complete objectivity. So that’s done.

As to me, why does the fact I’ve seen UFOs -- and experienced many high strangeness things with many of them -- make me nonobjective? Nonobjective to what?

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Those "snarly skeptics" and anti-UFOists - -  the pathological fundie skeptics - - sneer at those of us taking a serious look at UFOs, including all of the phenomena related experiences, as if we're somehow deficiant psychologically. Coming from that crowd, it's not a surprising tack for them to take; still, it does get tiresome. There are also some who are supposedly so-called "believers" in the UFO phenomenon who llike to fling this idea about, as if it's some kind of accusation.

You bet I have some kind of "psychological need" to do this. Of course I do! I've been living with this all my  life. I've seen multiple UFOs. I've had at least two episodes of missing time. I've been in telepathic communication with non-human entities, I've had psychic experiences involving UFOs, and truck loads of synchronistic moments.  There's more; much more, and a lot of it extends to my spouse, family members, and close friends.

So given this history of high strangeness in the realm of UFOs, it would be very weird -- pathological, I'd say -- to ignore all this, and just go merrily about my business as if nothing weird had ever happened.

To the skeptibunkies, I say: try again, kiddos. It's not an insult, and you haven't proved a thing. Or, disproved a thing.

(The blog and site looks great! I appreciate "Machine Elf's" and Nancy Birnes efforts in making this happen!)

I'm often asked what I think "the answer" is to All This. All This being UFOs. And high strangeness, like aliens giving pancakes to  Wisconsin farmers, alien abductions, friendly, good looking Venusians, Bigfoot, orbs, Mothman, giant insectoids, Reptilians, elves, and all the rest.  

 I answer that I have no idea. None! And this surprises people, sometimes it downright annoys them. Why would I have any answers? I'm stumbling around just like everyone else.

But that's not entirely true.  I've come to the conclusion that, with some exceptions, as diverse as these things are, they're all of the same source. Different manifestations that come from the same cosmic, intergalatic, universal "thing."

Which really doesn't answer a damn thing. Because it leaves us with the question: what is that "one thing?"